Facilities managers continue to struggle with budget limitations and attempting a quick fix can often overshadow return on investment strategies. The rental of throw down mats for building entrances may seem like it would save money but in the long run, it may not.
Building managers for large facilities, such as hospitals, high-rise buildings, university campuses, convention centres and mixed-use buildings, routinely rent throw down mats to prevent dirt, debris and water from being tracked in through their entrances.
These mats are widely used because they appear to be easy to maintain, convenient and affordable, but they can present hidden safety concerns. Rock salt and bulky slush can collect on top during winter and the mats can become saturated during rainy weather. These conditions along with mat movement, wrinkling and curled, cracked edges can contribute to slips, trips and falls.
Permanent entrance flooring systems offer a much more effective, stable and attractive solution, and should be considered as the first line of defence for trapping the dirt and water entering all building types. These systems also offer easy maintenance and provide the strength to withstand heavy foot and wheeled traffic.
There are several different types of permanent entrance flooring systems you can choose from. Some are made from aluminium rails that hold various inserts, such as heavy-duty carpet, vinyl or even EPDM. Many different styles and depths are available, to integrate with other flooring materials. Most permanent entrance flooring systems are engineered to allow dirt, water and debris to collect beneath the system, keeping the top surface clean as well as ensuring a safe and attractive entrance. Recess mounted aluminium and Stainless Steel grids and tiles can be lifted or rolled out of the recess for easy cleaning underneath.
Beyond the Entrance
If entrance flooring was not considered during the building’s design and construction phase, many facilities personnel think renting throw down mats is their only option to combat dirt. Luckily, this is not the case. Permanently securing an entrance flooring system to a concrete walkway leading up to your building will start the brushing, scraping and cleaning process even before a pedestrian enters the building. Or surface mounted options with ramped frames can be installed within the building.
When choosing between rental mats and permanent systems, local weather should be considered. Some building locations don’t need a heavy-duty entrance flooring system, but keep in mind that all areas have dirt and all facility managers need to prevent it from entering their buildings.
Every owner and facility manager is challenged with keeping buildings clean and safe. One of the best approaches is to utilise a permanent entrance flooring system designed to handle any volume of foot traffic, trap dirt, debris and water and save precious budget.
Other Considerations
Legislation Compliance:
- BS 7953:1999 – Entrance Flooring Systems – Selection Installation and Maintenance
- BS8300:2009+A1:2010 – Design of Buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people. Code of Practice
Renting Throw-Down Mats:
- Mats have short life cycles and often end up in the waste stream.
- The cleaning process can involve unwanted chemicals.
- Rental mats can interrupt design aesthetics.
- Mats can quickly develop stains and odours from the dirt and debris build-up that sits on their surfaces.
Permanent Entrance Flooring Systems:
- Each system can be manufactured according to facility requirements (diagonal cuts, radii, notches, etc.).
- Entrance flooring systems contribute to a positive first impression and enhance a building’s aesthetic with a variety of visual options.
- A variety of slip resistant insert options are available with differing levels of scraping ability
- Most manufacturers offer warranties.
Let’s compare the cost of a rental mat program to the purchase of a permanent entrance flooring system.
If a facility manager were to rent five 1500mm x 1000mm throw down mats at £3.00 per mat, per week for each of three locations, the yearly rental cost would be £2,340. So, looking at a 5-year period, that cost would be £11,700.
However, the total cost for a robust, permanent entrance flooring system of the same size, quantity and number of locations is around £3500 and this is a one-time purchase. There are no additional costs to maintain the system if it is cleaned properly using standard vacuuming and shampooing methods. So, with that in mind over the same 5-year period the total cost would still be £3500, and we actually warrant our carpet inserts for 5 years (*subject to terms) so you’ve got peace of mind that you won’t need to replace or maintain them before then anyway. If you choose a permanent entrance matting system with inserts that begin to show their age, they can easily be refurbished by simply replacing the existing inserts with new ones at a fraction of the cost of the original system.
Example:
A facility manager is responsible for 3 buildings and needs 5 mats at 1500mm x 1000mm per building.
Renting Throw-down Mats
- 15x throw down mats at 1500mm x 1000mm
- £3.00 per week charge per mat
- £2,340 per year
- 5 year period £11,700
Buying Permanent Aluminium Mats
- 15x aluminium entrance mats at 1500 x 1000mm
- £3,500 one-off cost
- 5 year period cost £3,500
CS Permanent Entrance Matting Solutions
